Combined signal and license display device



July 24, 1923. 1,462,953

F. BISCH COMBINED SIGNAL AND LICENSE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Jan. 26 1922 2 Shun-Sheet 1 F. BISCH COMBINED SIGNAL AND LICENSE DISPLAY DEVICE July 24, 1923.

Filed Jan. 26, 1922 2 Shuts-Sheet 2 JfIIIMWHiHM L i 0 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\F \\\\\\\\\\\k Q Patented July 24, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

FLOYD BISCH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED SIGNAL AND LICENSE DISPLAY DEVICE Application fiJed January 26, 192?. Serial No. 531,832.

imiroved means which can he used on vchic es for the purpose of displaying an illuminated signal showing the intention of the driver to stop: said means also including a portion having a license tag located there in and arranged to be illuminated to clearly show the markings thereon and the color representative of the year coloring of the license.

Another object is to make an extremely simple arrangement of the parts and so that they cannot be tampered nith by an nnauthorized person.

These objects. and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinaftcn I attain in the following manner reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a face view of a device made in accordance with my invention,

Fi ure 2 is a sectional plan view taken on thelme 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.,

Figure 4 is a. sectional view taken on the 5 line 4-et of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of one end of the device, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of i i gure 3.

Referring, to the drawings, my improved device includes a case 7 which is preferably made of cast metal and includes rectangular box portion 9. one end 9 of the box p0rtion 8 has an opening it) and at the front. and rear of said opening and at the top are provided ribs 11 which are spaced apart to provide a channel 12 for a gate 13. This gate consists of a plate adapted to he slid upward through the channel 12 and has an angulenfiange 14 provided with a hole 15 to register with an eye log 16 which is cast integral with the bottom 17 of the box portion 8 so that when the gate is raised into a positionclosing the opening 10. the eye lug lens 30- in place as shown in Figu 16 will extend through the hole 15 and a. lock, such as'the lock 17 illustrated in Figure 1, can be inserted through the eye lug t6 and thus lock the gate in its closed position. V e

The box portion 8 is elongated transversely-s0 that when the gate 13 is removed a license tag 18 can he slid into the box portion through the opening 10. The front 19 of the box portion has a rectangular opening 20 through \vhich the numbers and other markings of the license tag are visible and the numbers and other'markings are per-- forated as shown in Figure 1.

A backing sheet or plate 21 is also placed back of the tag 18 and strip springs 22, which are secured at one end to the back 23 of the box portion. are adapted to engage the rear of the sheet 21 and hold the sheet and tag together and also to hold the tag in abutment: with the inner surface of the front-19 at a position surrounding the front 0 eninn 20. Thus when the license tag and 5 met 21 are inserted through the opening 10, the springs 22 will be placed under tension and as soon asthe plate and sheet are released, said springs 22 will move them in the proper position and hold them in said position immedi atcly to the rear of the opening 20. The top 24 of the box portion 8 midway within its width is extended upward to providee pocket; 25; said pocket at its rear belng closed by an extension 26 of the back 23 with the-exception of a hole 27 through which an electric bulb or lamp 28 can be inserte l. The front 19 of the box portion is also extended u ward to form the front of the pocket 25'an said upward extension of the front has a lens aperture 29 in wh'ch is mounted a lens 30; said aperture also including a groove 31 in which a spring ring 32 can be inserted to hold the r'e 3; the arrangement. being such that the pocket 25 provides an upper compartment '33 in which the lamp 28 is positioned and'the lamp is directly to the rearof the lens 30. Thus, when illuminated, the rays of light from the lamp 30 will ass through the lens; certain of the rays of light passing downward into the compartment 34 of the box portion to the rear of the sheet 21. The sheet 21 is of a color similar to the year color of the license ta it being noted that various States have di erent color tags for each year so that the year of the license can be determined by the is carried by a vehicle and the lamp 2B is" illuminated, a portion of the light w ll. use

' out through the lens 30 and a portion the light will 'pe'netrate the perforations-jot the after first passing througll1ietheeolor jheet 21- so that not only will agkin a! the tag be displayed but the eolor ioft e tag can readily be determined. At the same time the license ta stolen. r I

The bottom 17fof the box portion B has an integreldepending hollow extension or 85. The bottom 1'? is continued above the top of the pocket to form a artition 36"51d partition being interrupts to form a doorway 37 which is adapted to be closed by: door 38 in the form of a detachable P f t9. The plate 38'has small arms 39 which are a chred to cars it); said earsbeing cast intqr with theppar'tition 36 and having holes t ugh which securing membersv il can be inserted; said securing members also extending through the arms 39. These securing members- 2m be in theform of pins, screws or small bolts so that when the arms 39 are agzaxihed to the ears d0, the poe htt 35 will (51W and t secure access to the interior of the pocket either or the securing members 41 can be remoredand then the door can be lifted on the" other securing member as a pivot. If desired'both of the securing members 41 can be removed. It will be noted that this action can take place through the medium of the front open4 mg 20 before the license tag is inserted; said opening 20 providing suflicient band room to allow access to the members and plate 38. The front and rear of the box portion are extended downward to form the front and rear of the pocket 35 and the upper portion of the pocket is made comparativel v wide so as to provide a signal sign compartment 42. The lower compartment 43 provide-d by the pocket 35 is adapted to receive an electric lamp 44 which can be inserted ihrough a hole 45 in the back, and the from of the compartment has a lens aperture 4G in which a lens 47 can be inserted; said aperture 46 also including a groove 48 i which a spring ring 49 can be inserted to retain the lens 47 in place in frontnof the lamp 44. It will be noted that the com purhnents 43 and 42 merge one into the "other so that a portion of the rays of light from the lamp 44 will pass outward through the lens 47 and another portion of thes'ays "of light will illuminate the compartment 42.

The front wall of the pocket 35 within the compartment 42 has integrally cast upward will. be securely locked within the, case so h capnot readily be 1 ly extending hook lugs 50 and laterally ex hook in 50 which are immediately adjacent t 0 bottom and side edge walls of a signal sign aperture 51 which is in alignment with the front of the si al sign compartment 42. A si a1 si 5 is supports by the lugs 50 an 50' an can be inserted through the doorway 32-. This signal sign 52 is preferably made of opaque material with is ters cut therein to form the word Stop; the front surface of the signal plate being preferably blackened .or darkened so that t e perforated letters will stand out prominently and will .be visible through themedinm of the aperture 51.

ATrosted platej53 of glass or other suitable materia is placed to the rear or the vsignal sign 52 and is-also supported by the lugs 50 and 50. A strip spring 54 is inserted between the plate 53 and the hooked portions of the lugs so as to firmly press against the plate 53 and hold the sign 52 against the inner surface of the front of the pocket 35 so as to prevent vibration from working the sign loose; it being noted that the spring 54'1nust be placed in position by slightly bending the same so as to place it under tension.

It will thus be noted that after the names tag has been properly placed within the box portion and the gate 13 looked that access either to the various pockets or the interior of the compartment 34 is prevented so that the interior of the device cannot be tampered with by an unauthorized person; it only being possible to remove the license tag when the gate is removed.

-The backing sheet or plate 21 can be made of colored transparent or translucent mart erial, such as glass, celluloid or other suit;

able material.

While I have described my invention as taking a'particular form, it will be understood that the various parts of my invention may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consiler that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the ap nded claims.

Havingthus described my 1 vention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-- ters Patent is z---' 1. A device of the character described ineluding a box portion having a viewing aperture; an opening in said box portion for the insertion of a lcense tag to be dis-v v box portion, said extensionsbeing provided with lenses; anda lamp inrear of each lens cglored means disposed in 'dbox portion *lihdfused in nnniunntinhY 'rsftii tag; and a partititon in said box portion detachably fastened between said box portion and the adjacent extension.

2. A device of the character described including a box portion having a viewing alperture; an opening in said box portion for t e insertion of a license tag to be disposed in said box portion and held before said aperture; integral extensions-on the top and bottom of the box portion, saidextension being rovided with lenses, and a lamp in rear of each lens, said box ortion and said extension being in communication with each other; a partition arranged to close the communication between said box portion and one extension; there being spaced ears which are pivotally mounted upon said partition; mem.

bers extending through said ears, said members being detachabl y connected to said box portion. v a t 3. A device of the character described in cluding a box portion having a viewing aperture; integral extensions on the top and bottom of said box portion provided with lenses and a lam in rear of each lens; and a partition detac abl secured between one of said extensions an said box portion, said partition being arranged in position to be reached through said viewing aperture.

4. A device of the character described including a box portion having an opening for the insertion of a license tag; extensions on the top and bottom of. the box portion provided with lenses; a lamp in rear of each lens; means for supporting a signal sign in said bottom ex nsion; said means includingtan opening having spaced lugs disposed about the same and adapted to receive said sign, and a spring mem or disposed within said lugs to hold said sign in position.

- 5. A device of the character described in= eluding a box portion having an openin for the insertion of a license tag; a colore plate disposed in rear of said license tag integral extensions on the top and bottom of the box portion, each of said extensions being provided with a lens; a lamp in rear of sai ens; means for supporting a signal sign in said lower extension, said means including an opening having spaced lugs disposed about the same and adapted to receive the signal sign, there being a s ring member placed within said lugs to hold said sign in position; and a partition detachably fastened between said bottom extension and the interior of said box portion.

6. A device of the character described in cluding a box portion provided with a front 0 enin and an open end and having a c anne disposed around the same; a gate sliding in the channel for closing the open end; a flange on the ate having an open ing; a lug on the through the opening in the flange; a forated license tag at the front 0 emng, and a lam within-the box portion or illuminating t e license tag.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FLOYD BISCH, Witnesses:

ELIZABETH GARBE, Cans. E. Pom

x portion passing 

